President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday called for “national healing” as the country turns 60 years. The most recognized nation in Africa is marking her Independence in Abuja today. POLITICS360 reported that the celebration will not be extravagant due to the current Pandemic affecting the whole world.
Earlier today the Nigerian President attended the military Parade held at the eagle square with low turnout.
Read more: Edo House of Assembly: Edo state Speaker, Emmanuel Agbaje and other members visit Gov.Obaseki
In statement “Today, we grapple with multiple challenges with a population exceeding 200 million,” Buhari, 77, said.
“Our economy along with every single economy in the world is in crisis. We still face security challenges in parts of the country, while our society suffers from a high loss of moral rectitude which is driven by unbridled craving for political control.”
Africa’s biggest oil producer has been battered by the global economic fallout from the pandemic as a drop in crude prices has robbed it of key revenues.
The country is battling a decade-long jihadist insurgency in its northeast and has failed to tamp down bloody clashes, kidnappings and insecurity in the northwest.
Almost half of the population is estimated to live in extreme poverty, and rampant corruption has drained away decades of oil wealth.
The deep-seated woes are a far cry from the widespread optimism that greeted independence.
But those hopes evaporated as the country went through coups, a civil war that left a million dead and over thirty years of military dictatorship.
The nation still struggles for unity as the toxic legacy of Britain’s divide-and-rule strategy continues to pit regions and ethnic groups against each other.
“An underlying cause of most of the problems we have faced as a nation is our consistent harping on artificially contrived fault-lines,” Buhari said.
“We need to begin a sincere process of national healing, and this anniversary presents a genuine opportunity to eliminate old and outworn perceptions.”
President Muhammadu Buhari who promised eradication of corruption, restoring the nation’s economy and security in a slogan his party (APC) tagged “change”.
Nigerians believe that country is in her worst state and there is no reason to celebrate independence
